Aperture plate for power&#39;s projection machines



Feb. 21, 1933. A. DINA 1,398,173

.fiPERTURE PLATE FOR POWERS PROJECTION MACHINES I Filed July 25 1929 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR (9092647 Z/ka BY ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1933. v DlNA1,898,173

APERTURB PLATE FOR POWERIS PROJECTION MACHINES Filed Jul 25, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 21,1933

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUGUSTO OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION, OF N EW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE APRRTURE PLATE FOR POWERS PROJECTION MACHINESApplication fled July 25,

This invention relates to motion picture apparatus and particularl tothe projectors therefor, and has especia reference to new andlmprovedaperture plates for the type aperture plate which may be veryeasily and quickly substituted for the usual ones employed on projectorsof the above mentioned typesnnd which wiill permitthese types ofprojectors to be used to project not only standard film but also thefilms having the sound striata along one edge for the simultaneousproduction of sound in movie-tone projection.

A further object is to provide an aperture plate which, after beinginstalled, may be quickly manipulated to change the aperture opening toone or the other typedepending upon which type of film is to beprojected.

A still further object is to provide a substitute aperture plate whichdoes not re uire the slightest alteration or modification o the usualmachine of the Powers type.

Further and more specific ob'ects, features, and advantages will moreclearly appear from the detailed description given below when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings which form part of thespecification and which illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

The invention, when contemplated in general terms, comprises a flatplate of the same size ,of the usual aperture plate employed inprojectors of the Powers type and which canbe readily substituted forthe usual one without the slightest alteration or modification of theusual parts of the machine and without any alteration of the operationof the. associated mechanism. It is merely a question of taking one offand putting the other one 1n its. place. This improved movie-toneaperture plate has the usual standard size opening therein and is alsoprovided with a slide plate which contains at least two openings, one

conforming in size to thestandard aperture size and the other beingaltered in size to coniorm to the size of the picture section on. the

1929. serial No. 380,888.

movie-tone film which generally is shortened as to the width thereofalong one side which is usually occupied by the sound striata.

This slide plate, containing the plurality of apertures therein, has anormal lowermost position in which it generally rests by its own weightand in which position the modified aperture therein is exposed inregistry with the main aperture openin in the main plate to which theslide plate is operatively attached. When it is desired to adapt themachine for the projection of normal pictures, the slide is raised andthis brings the normal sized opening in registry with the main openingin the aperture plate. This raising of the slide is effected by anysuitable means such as a simple hand 1p as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7inclusive an which projects from the edge of the slide member preferablyat the top thereof. When the slide reaches the top of its modifiedposition it is engaged by a suitable holding means such as a latchmechanism which locks it in the raised position so that the modifiedaperture is held firmly in place. When it is desired to change back tothe movie-tone film operation, a projection from the latch mechanism isready to the hand of the operator and can be manlpulated quickly topermit the slide plate to be moved to its lower position. This wholeoperation from one position to another is accomplished by a flick of thefingers and that will take place in a second even while the film isrunning.

In the present preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine of the Powers type withparticular reference to the projection head thereof; a

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the projection head looking at the faceof the partition supporting the aperture plate, with the associated gateswung away to expose the same and showing the modified aperture plate inposition;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the modified plate;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the slide plate in position to projectmovie-tone pictures;

i Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.

Fi 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 8 is a partial view of a modified form of slide operatingmechanism. As shown in the drawings, theinvention is adapted to be usedon a machine ofthe Powers type which comprises a projection head 10provided with a transverse partition 11 having an aperture in relationto which there is fastened an aperture plate 12 by any suitable meanssuch as screws 13. This aperture plate 12 has an aperture 14 thereinwhich is of standard size for the projection of standard films. Thisplate 12 sets into a suitable shallow groove on the face of thepartition 11 which is indicatedv i i-Fig. 2 by the lines '15 and 16. Bymerelv removing the few screw-s which hold the plate 12 in this recess,the operator can grip the fingers 17 and 18 at the top of the plate 12with his hand and-pull it up and out of the recess. These fingers 17 and18 are fastened to the backof the plate 12 at the top thereof.

At the front of the plate 12 alon the sides thereof and extendingvertically o? the plate 12 are 'a' air of. flange plates 19 and 20 (seeFig.1) wiich are fastened to the face of the "iperture' plate 12 bysuitable means such as screws 21. Ihe'inner adjacent edgesof theseflangeplates .19 and 20 are spaced from the face of the aperture plate12 as shown at 22 and 23 to form slots or grooves, which may hedovetailed or tapered to conform to the lat'eraledges. of the slideplate such edges being indicated by the numerals 24.- and 25 and theslide with the rout face of the aperture plate 12, jthe'main bodyportion of the slide plate 26 beingof a thickness to bring its frontface flush with the front faces of the flange plates 19 and 20 so as topermit and present a.

smooth exterior surface against which the 1m can travel across theaperture opening. The slide plate 26 is provided with two apertures'therein, one 27 is of the standard size for the, projectirm ofstandardpictures andthe other 28 is of less width by being reduced alongone lateral edge .to be used with movie-tone films which have striataalong that 1 This handle is edge. The apertures 2? and 28 are disposedone above the other with the modified aperture 28 preferably above theother.

The slide plate 26 may be moved up and down by any suitable means whichmay join theplate at a satisfactory position. There is r 5 fastened tothe-top of the slide plate a satisfactory operating member suchas ahandle 29 wh ch. projects laterally so as to permit ready conta'ct withthe hand of the operator when itis-deslre'd to'shift the slide plate 26.J referably attached to the grunt of the slide plate 26. At the'top ofthe slide plate 26 there is also provided a rearits u per or lowerposition depending on her the projection is of a standard late by thenumeral 26 associatedthe ifilm begins to contact with the neeairs wardlyprojecting .pin 30 which extends through a slot 31 in the aperture plate12 near the top thereof. This engagement limits the vertical movement ofthe slide plate 26. To the back of the aperture plate 12 there ispivoted a spring member 32, the outer end of which projects laterallybeyond the-side of the aperture plate 12 and. adjacent the end of thehandle 29 so as to permit the hand of the operator to readily manipulateit. This spring or latch member 32 carries a latch pin 33 which projectsthrough a hole 34 in aperture plate 12 and into a hole 35 in the slideplate when the slide plate 26 is in its uppermost position wherein it'isprojecting normal or standard size pictures. A stop screw 36 has a head37.. witliwhich the spring 32 engages in its outward movement to limitthe outward movement oi the spring 32.

In the operation of the device, it is assumed stander plate in positionin the recess on the partition 11, then the improved aperture plate12according to this mvention can he slid into the recess from above andfastened in place b the screws such as lgfabove mentioned. and does notentail any changes or alterations in the construction of the machine orits parts. Then the slide plate 26 is adjusted in whet or a movie-tonefilm. If it is moved to its upper osition, it is apparent thatiit'willbe latche in this position by means of the latch pin 33 and that in itslower position it will his will take only a moment or two ice and

maintain its position by gravity and that'in this lower position themodified opening 28 will be re istered with the aperture 14 abovemention in the plate 12. It will lie-noted that the pin 33 hasits lowerfacebevelled as at 38 to permit of the upward movement thereon of theinner face of the slide plate 26,

whereby it acts as a latch member. Observ ing the slide plate 26 in itsupper position shown in Fig. 4, it will be apparent that when the righthand of the operator approaches the plate 26 that the thumb or the handlie nearest the end of the spring 32 and the first finger of the handwill lie nearest the handle 29. Instinctivelythe thumb will press inwardon the spring '32 and the finger rec willpress down on the handle andmore the slide plate 26 to its lower position quicker than it would hethought Therefore the only thing on the front face possible. I

of the improved aperture plate which 'hreak the even smooth surfice isthe handle 29 and? it, as seen in Fig. l, is above the point where 1 ateare I I In Fi 8 the slide plate 26 has one edge provide with a rackhaving teeth 40 engageable with similar teeth 41 on an operating handle42 pivoted on the side of the aperture plate 12 preferably in a notch 43in one of the IQ anges such as 20. When the handle 42 is operated theslide plate is moved up and down quickl and positively.

While the improved aperture plate has been described as particularlyadaptable to the 1' Powers projector it is to be understood that it isnot limited to use only with such machines since the same idea may beadapted to other machines without such alterations in the constructionand arrangement of parts as would constitute a separate invention fromthat shown herein. Therefore while the inventionhas been described indetail and with respectto a preferred "form thereof, it is not desiredthat it be limited to such details or forms since many changes andmodifications may be made and the invention embodied in other formswithout departing from the spirit and sec e of the invention in itsbroader aspects. ence it is desired to cover all forms and modificationscoming within the language or scope of any one or more of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed, is,

1. In a projector for motion ictures, a head, a partition thereon alongwhich the film travels, an aperture late thereon, said plate disposed in.a'recess in said partition, means I for fastening the plate in therecess, a slide plate movab y mounted on the aperture plate, and havin aplurality of apertures thereon to be selectively registered with theaperture in the aperture plate, manual means for moving the slide plateto register one of its apertures, and means for latching it in thisposition.

2. In a projector for motion ictures, a head, a partition thereon alongwhich the film travels, an aperture plate thereon, said plate disposedin a recess in said partition, means for fastening the plate in saidrecess, a slide plate mounted movably on the aperture plate,

and having a plurality of apertures thereon to be selectively registeredwith the aperture in the aperture plate, manual means for moving theslide plate to register one of its apertures, means for automaticallylatching it in this position, and manual means for releasing I saidlatching means to permit the slide plate to be moved to anotherposition.

3.'In a projector for-motion pictures, an aperture plate having anaperture therein of standard size, a slide plate mounted on the apertureplate and having'a standard and a modified opening therein-and spacedapart from each other, a handle on the slide plate rojectin'g laterallyof the aperture late to e grasped by the'operator to move t e slideplate to' re 'ster one or the other opening with I ate, a

the norma openin in the aperture p s ring pressed latc member on theaperture p ate, said slide plate having an opening therein to receivesaid latch member when moved to a predetermined position, and manualmeans connected to said latch member to release it when the slide plateis to be moved from said position. 4

- e 4. In a rojector for motion pictures, an

aperture p ate having an aperture therein of standard size, a slideplate mounted on the aperture plate and having a standard and a modifiedopening therein spaced apart from each other, a handle on the slideplate projecting laterally of the aperture plate to be grasped by theoperator to move the slide plate to register one or the other openingwith the normal opening in the aperture plate, a spring pressed latchmember on the aperture plate, said slide plate having an opening thereinto receive said latch member when moved to a predetermined position,manual means connected to said latch means to release it when the slidelate is to be moved from said position, an a pin on the slide plate andadapted to slide in a slot in the a rture plate to limit the verticalmovement 0 the slide plate on the aperture. plate.

5. In a projector for motion pictures, an aperture plate, a artition onthe projection head of the pro ector having a recess in which theaperture plate is seated with its face flush with the face of thepartition, spaced flanges on the face of the aperture and grooved, aslide plate on the face of the a rture plate, the ed es of the slideplate received in said grooves, t e main portion of the slide platebeing flush with the face of the flanges, said slide plate having spacedapertures to be registered selectively with the aperture in the aperture'late,a aterally projectin handle on the sli e plate to be asped by t eoperator to move the slide p ate to one or another position, a 5 ringpressed latch member on the aperture p ate, and adapted to engage in anopening in the slide plate when moved to a predetermined position,manual means for releasing the latch member, and means for limiting thevertical movement of the slide plate with respect to the aperture piate.

6. In a projector for motion i'ctures, an

aperture plate, a slide plate move. le thereon, a handle at the top ofthe slide plate to be engaged 'by a finger of the operator, a springlatch member on the aperture plate and ex tending laterally just belowthe handle to be enga ed by the thumb of the o rator, to facilitate therelease of the slidea le plate.

7. In a projector for motion pictures, an aperture plate, a slide platemovable thereon, a handle at the top of the side plate to be engaged bythe finger of the operator, a spring lateh member on'the aperture plate(1 ex tending laterally just below the handle-fie be, engaged by thethumb of the eperatez' to fewcilitete the release of the slideableplate, and

means on the latch member to automatically engage the slide plate in oneof its positions t0 latch it therein.

AUGUSTG .D1NA..

